A tarot card reader has advised against making paneer at home, claiming it has “emotional” consequences such as “anxiety, stress, emotional imbalance, and depression.” Dr. Tejaswi Desai, in an Instagram post, stated that “curdling the milk by adding lemon or any sour component weakens the influence of the Moon,” which represents emotions. Her post received backlash on social media, with one user commenting, “If milk is Moon, then gas stove is Sun?” Another advised, “If you read the word ‘tarot’ in any online profile, run.” A different user even labeled her as “Nirmal Baba light” over her claims.
In a video showing someone making paneer, Desai wrote, “Do you make paneer at home often? Then this is definitely for you.”
“Milk represents the Moon, which is the planet for emotions. When you curdle the milk by adding lemon or any sour component, then you weaken your Moon, which indirectly causes anxiety, stress, emotional imbalance, and depression. It can also lead to fights at home. So, stop making paneer at home,” she added.
Fitness influencer Chirag Barjatya shared screenshots from Desai’s Instagram post, commenting, “Another source of protein in the drain! Don’t make paneer at home.”
An X user reacted to the viral claim, writing, “What a trap! I have anxiety, stress, depression, emotional imbalance, etc., and I made chhena with lemon in milk twice in 2020. They talk about such generic possibilities that anybody would fall into their trap and relate it to themselves.”
Astha Gupta added, “I will definitely get anxiety and depression if I keep on buying 200 gm paneer for ₹150 every day instead of making it with ₹58 milk at home.”
Another user remarked, “According to her, it’s fine if we consume paneer made by someone else because the moon will get offended only if we try to make the paneer at home.”
The tarot reader behind the viral claim has over 72,000 followers on Instagram and is a “tarot and akashic reader.” Desai, who identifies as a Reiki master and Lama Fera Grandmaster, says she is “a doctor by profession and healer by choice.”